Thanks to its rich diversity of landscapes, from high Alpine peaks to seaside, forests and canals, France unveils a wide range of beautiful cycling itineraries, for all levels, from the hardest to the easiest. Here's our complete selection of the best family cycling itineraries in France.
1. The Loire à Vélo
- Distance: 900 km
- Duration: 8 to 15 days
- Itinerary
The Loire à Vélo is one of the best family cycling itineraries in France, simply because it's one of the longest and easiest. In fact, it follows the Loire basin, so there's virtually no change in altitude. What's more, the trail is now fully developed and safer. Last but not least, this trail passes through an exceptional natural and historical heritage, and you can take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Loire castles. It's up to you to decide whether you'd like to do the whole itinerary, or just a one- or two-day section if you prefer. To plan your trip, read our full article on the Loire à Vélo.
2. The Nantes-Brest canal
- Distance: 390 km
- Duration: 5 to 10 days
- Itinerary
It's the same trick as above: as the Nantes à Brest canal follows a river, it's particularly flat, making it one of the best family bike routes in France. As its name suggests, this route stretches between Nantes and Brest, along the banks of several rivers, including the Erdre, Aulne, Blavet and Oust. Along the way, it passes through historic towns such as Pontivy. Because it combines beautiful scenery, a rich heritage and accessibility, the Nantes-Brest Canal is one of the most popular cycling routes in Brittany.
3. The Dolce Via in Ardèche
- Distance: 90 km
- Duration: 2 to 3 days
- Itinerary
This is the perfect cycling itinerary for a family weekend, since it's relatively short. Of course, you can also choose to do just one stage. It's the perfect ride for nature lovers, who will be invited to protect it by discovering it with this zero-carbon means of transport. In fact, you'll cross the wild landscapes of the Ardèche following the route of an old railroad line.
4. The Canal du Midi from Carcassonne to the Mediterranean
- Distance: 160 km
- Duration: 2 to 3 days
- Itinerary
The Canal du Midi is a waterway in southwest France, joining the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean. Here, we're only talking about its easternmost section, from Carcassonne to the sea. You'll start in Carcassonne, with its famous medieval fortress that's sure to please the whole family, before winding your way through the natural southern landscapes on one of France's most famous cycling routes. It's the perfect way to spend a weekend, but you can also choose to complete just one section in a few hours.
5. Tour de Bourgogne à Vélo
- Distance: 664 km
- Duration: 6 to 11 days
- Itinerary
What makes this route one of the best family cycling itineraries in France is quite simply that it forms a loop. This means you won't need totake public transport or retrace your steps to get back to your starting point, so you won't get bored. However, to complete the entire route, you'll need to plan a vacation of one or two weeks. But the Burgundy cycling tour is well worth it: you'll pedal along a wide variety of routes, including canals, old railroad lines and other greenways.
6. The Vélodyssée from Biarritz to Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- Distance: 14.5 km
- Duration: 1 h
- Itinerary
La Vélodyssée is actually a much longer itinerary, following the entire French Atlantic coastline. It's a long and demanding outing, with some difficult sections that are unsuitable for a family cycling itinerary. Here, therefore, we propose only a leisurely section along the water, while respecting nature. You'll cycle between Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz, along the beaches, and through some pretty Basque villages where you can stop for a bite to eat. At the finish line, you can treat yourself to a swim as a reward.
7. The Vélo Francette from Caen to La Rochelle
- Distance: 600 km
- Duration: 5 to 10 days
- Itinerary
Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Poitou and Charente-Maritime: discover France on one of the best family cycling routes in France, the Vélo Francette. You'll see French villages with their old-world charm and enjoy beautiful panoramic views, all without any major difficulties. This route is perfect for a week-long vacation. All along the way, you'll find local gîtes to sleep in, as well as some opportunities to bivouac.
8. The ViaRhôna
- Distance: 815 km
- Duration: 1 to 2 weeks
- Itinerary
This more substantial itinerary lends itself to vacations lasting up to two weeks! You'll need to prepare the whole family for this first cycling trip. However, the route is accessible to all, as it follows the course of the Rhône, and doesn't include any overly steep or technical sections. You'll cycle from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, passing through towns, villages and sumptuous natural landscapes. In the heart of gastronomic territories, you'll even be able to sample some delicious cuisine.
9. The grand tour of Alsace
- Distance: 315 km
- Duration: 3 to 6 days
- Itinerary
Alsace offers us an itinerary at the heart of the traditions and gastronomy of eastern France. You'll start in Strasbourg and make your way to the Alsatian vineyards, where you can sample Riesling and Gewurztraminer. The medieval villages with their half-timbered houses will convince you that you're cycling on one of France's most beautiful itineraries. You'll then arrive in southern Alsace, with its rich industrial past, and encounter the Rhine and its towpath.
10. The Bay of the Somme by bike
- Distance: 60 km
- Duration: 1 to 3 days
- Itinerary
Just a glimpse of the sumptuous landscapes of the Baie de Somme is enough to convince you that you're on one of the best family cycling routes in France. It stretches between Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmon and the Pointe du Hourdel in the south. Most of the route is sparsely urbanized, with cliffs, wetlands and forest, but without any overly difficult sections. Don't forget binoculars, as the Baie de Somme is a major ornithological zone in France, and take along a bag to collect your garbage and reduce your ecological footprint. Last but not least, the fastest will manage to complete the route in a day, while those who like to take their time will need a long weekend.
11. The Véloroute du Lin in Normandy
- Distance: 75 km
- Duration: 1 to 3 days
- Itinerary
This route owes its name to the fact that Normandy is the world's leading producer of flax. It stretches between Dieppe, whose château you can visit, and Fécamp. You can also extend the EuroVélo 4 route a little further, to reach the famous cliffs ofÉtretat. For the rest, this trail offers mostly undeveloped coastal landscapes of cliffs and fields. Its great advantage, if you're doing it as a family, is that most of it, with the exception of some 20 km, is on cycle paths, which are not shared with cars. What's more, the entire route is on smooth pavement.
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